Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. chairperson Stella Marquez Araneta.
In the wake of the Miss Universe debacle that saw Philippine candidate Mary Jean Lastimosa fail to crack the Top 5, which most netizens attribute to her lackluster Colombian-designed gown, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. issued a statement Wednesday to somewhat address the issue.
Sounding like it is heeding the longtime clamor of pageant fans to allow Filipino designers to outfit Binibining Pilipinas winners for international competitions, particularly Miss Universe, BPCI posted this statement on its official Facebook page:
“Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. has always been the showcase of Filipino beauty and excellence. The world’s great pageant stages have borne witness to the elegance and grace of the Binibini queens, where the Philippines has consistently placed high since 2010. Gaining the distinction of being among the top 10 also speaks highly of the Binibini queens since this means that they truly stood out from among so many beauties from around the world.
BPCI, led by its Chairperson Stella Araneta continues to believe in Filipino genius and this has been emphasized in several instances in the past including the fashion accolades to the creations of Pitoy Moreno, the designs of young couturiers worn by its candidates in the annual National Costume competition, and the pictorials and fashion shows of local designers featuring Binibini queens.
“She also understands the passion of Filipino designers to clothe the Binibining Pilipinas queens for the international pageant stage and is open to the creations and designs of these brilliant Filipino talents. Mrs. Araneta enjoins Filipino designers to collaborate with BPCI in presenting the Binibini queens in the best designs that will enhance her innate grace and beauty.”
The statement has been interpreted by several pageant fans as an apology of sorts by BPCI founding madam Stella Marquez Araneta following her controversial pre-pageant television interview where she defended her use of the gowns designed by fellow Colombian Alfredo Barraza because the designs “that were given to us (by Filipino designers) were no good for our candidates.”
As a result, Marquez Araneta’s interview drew more flak and prompted several fashion stalwarts to take exception to her “no good” remark.
To be fair, BPCI is correct in pointing out that its candidates had worn the creations of local designers including the legendary Pitoy Moreno and other up and coming names in the fashion industry in the past. This year, MJ Lastimosa herself modeled gowns made by Leo Almodal which many thought she would wear during the actual pageant itself.
But as was the case in recent years, it was the gowns designed by Barraza as personally commissioned by Marquez Araneta that were ultimately worn by MJ during the Miss Universe preliminaries and coronation night in Doral, Florida.
With BPCI’s statement, it seems Marquez Araneta is finally ready to ditch Barraza whose much superior gown for Miss Colombia Paulina Vega might have contributed to the latter’s victory — a clear conflict of interest.
However, BPCI’s appeal to Pinoy designers seems to have done little to appease Marquez Araneta’s critics, who reiterated the calls for the Miss Colombia 1959 to step down as BPCI chairperson and relinquish her leadership to a Filipino successor.
The BPCI madam was noticeably absent from Thursday’s welcome press conference for MJ Lastimosa following her arrival from Florida after a brief stopover in Los Angeles.
Stella Marquez Araneta softens stance on PH designers
Source: InterAksyon.com (January 30, 2015 at 04:07PM)
Continue...
No comments:
Post a Comment